Still, I Rise is written by Maya Angelou | English | E-Learning

Описание: Ms. N. Saranya,
Head & Assistant Professor,
PG & Research Department of English,
Theivanai Ammal College for Women (Autonomous),
Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Topic: Still, I Rise is written by Maya Angelou

The poem Still I Rise is considered as dignity and resilience of marginalized people. The writing style of the poet in this poem is in strong and determined tone while addressing herself proudly. The poet used the elements of romantic fury and defiant emotions throughout the poem which strengthens the themes of self-empowerment, perseverance, courage, pride and injustice.

The poem expresses the powerful voice of the speaker which refers herself and the black people. The poet used the various literary devices such as: repetition, alliteration, metaphor, simile, imagery, irony and rhyme scheme. Angelou used uneven sets of lines in the 9 stanzas. She used quatrains at the first seven stanzas, six lines at eighth stanza and nine lines at ninth.

The first seven stanzas have an ABCB rhyme scheme, eighth stanza has ABABCC, and the ninth stanza has ABABCCBBB. The poet used various symbols in the poem such as: Dirt, Oil Wells, Gold Diamonds, Bowed head and lowered eyes, Black Ocean and Night. The speaker used "I" first person narration in the poem Still I Rise and she compares herself with dust, oil wells, moon, sun, ocean tides, teardrops, gold mines, air, diamonds, Black Ocean, dream and hope.

She repeated "You may" at the 6th stanza, and she repeated "I'll", "I rise". She used rhyming words in the poem are lies - rise, gloom - room, tides - rise, eyes - cries, hard - yard, eyes - rise, surprise - thighs, wide - tide, fear - tear - clear, and gave - slave.

The phrase "Still I Rise" expresses the proclamation against the society that tries to dominate the speaker's voice. The phrase "I Rise" refers not to a singular uprising. But it is a collective revolutionary voice which consists of the raging uproar of a class, oppressed and betrayed for a long time.